An undisclosed ‘medical situation’ involving surgery has forced Bonnie Raitt to cancel or postpone a handful of shows.
The legendary blues musician has been out on the road as part of her Just Like That… Tour that went from April through November last year, and then resumed this past March.
‘Bonnie has a medical situation that requires surgery to address. The doctors say that in order for her to heal properly, they recommend she not perform for a couple of weeks,’ according to a statement shared on her official Instagram page Friday.
The stretch of time needed for the operation and her recovery overlaps five tour dates in May.
Raitt and the band had to cancel their performance at Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend in Miramar Beach, Florida on May 14.
Health concerns: Bonnie Raitt, 73, was forced to cancel one show and reschedule four others in May due to an undisclosed ‘medical situation’; seen in March 2022
The good news about the other four dates affected is that they’re all being rescheduled, two of which already been issued new dates.
The May 19 show at the Louisville Palace Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky has been rescheduled for June 30, 2023, while the previous May 20 date at the Murat Theatre at Old National Center in Indianapolis, Indiana will now be played on July 1.
The new dates for the other two postponed shows: May 17 at the Classic Center in Athens, Georgia and May 23 at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are still pending.
The statement continued: ‘We deeply apologize for this delay and inconvenience,’ the statement continued. ‘It’s always upsetting to have to disappoint her fans, band, crew and our promoters, but sometimes unforeseen things just happen.’
Team Raitt ended the announcement by assuring she is in ‘great hands’, while thanking fans for all the support and well wishes.
‘She was so looking forward to these shows, but we’re excited to be able to resume our 2023 tour now kicking off in Dublin, Ireland, June 1,’ the statement concluded.
Concertgoers are being urged to hold on to their tickets, so they can be used for the rescheduled show dates.
The ongoing tour is in support of her 18th studio album, Just Like That…, that dropped in April 2022.
Consisting of the singles Made Up Mind, Something’s Got A Hold Of My Heart and Livin’ For The Ones, Just Like That… made it to number one on six Billboard charts and number 44 on the Billboard 200.
The Lead single Made Up Mind won the Grammy for Best Americana Performance at the 65th annual Grammy Awards in February.
Plus her latest release got nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album, while the title track won the Grammy for Song Of The Year and Best American Roots Song.
Shutting it down: The blues musician was ordered to not perform for two weeks in order to recover properly after surgery
Flying high: Raitt has been out on the road on her Just Like That… Tour since April 2022; she is pictured after winning three Grammys at the 65th Grammy Awards in February that includes for Song Of The Year for the title track of her most recent studio album
After being presented with the Song Of The Year award from U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Raitt revealed the track was inspired by her friend and fellow musician John Prine, who died following a battle with coronavirus in 2020.
‘I was so inspired for this song by the incredible story of the love, and the grace, and the generosity of someone that donates their beloved’s organs to help another person live,’ Raitt shared of the inspiration to the lyrics, as reported by People.
“And this story was so simple and so beautiful for these times. And people have been responding to the song, partly because of how much I love and we all love John Prine, and that was the inspiration for the music for this song, and telling this story from the inside,’ she explained.
‘I don’t write a lot of songs, but I’m so proud that you appreciate this one.’
